RNCM Announces 2017 Honorands

Actress and singer Dame Patricia Routledge is amongst the Royal Northern College of Music’s 2017 Honorands, alongside pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, violinist Henning Kraggerud, and conductor Vasily Petrenko.

The popular star of stage and screen will be awarded Honorary Membership of the RNCM (HonRNCM) during the College’s Congregation of Awards in December, while Jean Efflam-Bavouzet, Henning Kraggerud and Vasily Petrenko will all receive Fellowships (FRNCM).

Perhaps best-known for her roles as Hyacinth Bucket in the classic sitcom Keeping up Appearances and Kitty in Victoria Wood’s As Seen on TV, Dame Patricia has also enjoyed a successful career in musical theatre dating back to the 1950s. She made her Broadway début in How’s the World Treating You in 1966 and in 1968 won a Tony Award for her role in Darling of the Day. Twenty years later, in 1988, she picked up an Olivier Award for her portrayal of the Old Lady in Bernstein’s Candide.

Recognised as one of the most engaging live performers of his generation, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet enjoys an eminent career as a solo recitalist and recording artist. He has also worked regularly with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, including Pierre Boulez, Sir Andrew Davis, Ivan Fischer, Vasily Petrenko, Andris Nelsons and Krzysztof Urbánski. A multi award-winner, Jean-Efflam’s accolades include Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine awards for his recordings of works by Debussy and Ravel, and in 2012 International Classical Music Award named him Artist of the Year. In September, Jean-Efflam will join the RNCM as an International Chair in Piano.

Henning Kraggerud is one of Norway’s most outstanding international artists. A violinist and violist of the highest calibre, he regularly performs on the world’s most prestigious concert platforms, and with leading orchestras, conductors and soloists. He is also a composer and holds the positions of Co-Artistic Director of the Risør Festival of Chamber Music, Artistic Director of the Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, and Professor at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo. Henning is one of the RNCM’s International Chairs in Violin.

Vasily Petrenko is Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and European Union Youth Orchestras, and Principal Guest Conductor of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia. In 2007 he was named Young Artist of the Year at the annual Gramophone Awards, and in 2010 he won the Male Artist of the Year accolade at the Classical Brit Awards. In his role as Chief Conductor of the RLPO, Vasily offers valuable training to RNCM postgraduate conductors and Junior Fellows in Conducting, offering the opportunity to work alongside him as Assistant Conductor each year.

Professor Linda Merrick, RNCM Principal, said: ‘Each year the RNCM awards Fellowships and Honorary Memberships to world-renowned musicians, conductors, composers, educators and advocates. And 2017 is no exception. This year’s honorands provide a wealth of experience, support and inspiration to the College, and I look forward to welcoming them to our Congregation of Awards in December.’

In addition to Dame Patricia, Honorary Membership of the College will also be awarded to entrepreneur and philanthropist Carole Nash OBE, Jonathan Groves, Director of the international artist management company Ingpen and Williams, and Martin Vander Weyer, business editor of The Spectator and long-time supporter of the arts across the UK.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Carole Nash OBE founded Carole Nash Insurance Consultants in 1985 as a vintage and classic motorcycle insurance specialist. She later moved into the modern bike sector and then onto classic car insurance. One of the College’s most loyal advocates, Carole generously supported the £1m transformation of one of the RNCM’s main performance spaces, now known as the Carole Nash Recital Room.

Since 1976 RNCM Governor Jonathan Groves has been a director of the international artist management company Ingpen and Williams Ltd. During this time he has been responsible for the worldwide management of many distinguished artists including Sir Mark Elder, Sir Edward Downes, Alfred Brendel, Elisabeth Söderström, Dame Anne Evans, Yvonne Minton, and Sir Donald McIntyre – and several RNCM alumni such as Graham Vick, Sian Edwards, Joan Rodgers and Amanda Roocroft. Jonathan was also a founding board member of the Young Concert Artists Trust and served for many years as Chair of the Opera Committee of the International Artist Managers’ Association.

Writer, arts promoter and performer, Martin Vander Weyer, is business editor of The Spectator magazine, a regular contributor to The Daily Telegraph and other national publications, and the author of a number of books and plays. As well as being a member of the RNCM’s Board of Governors, Martin is also a trustee of Opera North and was formerly Director of Helmsley Arts Centre in North Yorkshire and Chairman of Ryedale Music Festival.

27 June 2017